Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-08-20
FARNSWORTH'S GROVE.
The Old Settlers Reunion Down
There.

The reunion of the old settlers OF
Lane county at Farnsworth's Grove on
Friday of last week was a success in
every particular. This grove is situated
in the northern portion of Lane county.
To look south at it from the Smoky Hill
river bottom, the grove seems to be nearly
on the water shed. On reach ing the
grove, however, higher land looms up to
the south. In the grove there is said to
be seventy-fve acres of timber. It ex-
tends for a distance of perhaps three
fourths of mile along both sides of a
small stream whose general course is
from southwest to northeast. This
stream contains pure water which comes
from numerous springs. The varieties
of timber are, for the most part, hack
berry, cottonwood and willow. OF
the willow, there are veritable groves
fringing the stream. They grow lux
uriantly.
The attendance at the reunion COM
prised, according to our estimate, nearer
a thousand than five hundred persons.
OF course. in the very nature of things,
only small portion of these were old
settlers. OF the old settlers in Lane
county, 129 are said to be there yet.
There were some of these who, owing to
living long distances from the grove or
other causes, could not be present. The
exercises began at about II A. M. They
were interesting throughout. The Digh-
ton brass band furnished the music. It
is an excellent band. w. FL. Lee, county
treasurer of Lane county, is the secretary
of the association. He did every thing
in his power to make the people happy.
Mr.. Titus, another old settler, presided.
Early in the proceedings the following let
ter was read by Mr.. Lee. In the after
noon some who had not heard it asked
that it be read again, and Judge Osborn
read it then:
Ness CRY, KAN, Aug II, 1887.
". II. Lee, Secretary O. S. A.,
Lane Co., Kan.,
MY DEAR OLD FR1END:-I am truly
and sincerely panied at this late date,
after my dear wife, with the aid of
Chinese laundry, had prepared me clean
shirt especially for the occasion, to be
compelled to inform you that it will be
utterly impossible for me to be with you
tomorrow. [ had ardently hoped to be
with you, and to get on my hands and
knees and drink creek water by the side
of some dear old seventy miner. I had
expected to stand at the feed board and
gorge my lank form on pie cooked by
some dear old bach. who had fought the
battles of poverty with me for eight long,
weary, starving years. Idesired to shake
hands and hold sweet communion with
the boys who used to cremate ''chips"
and wear dirty, ragged trousers like I did
in the old days long gone by.
1 intended to tell of those melancholy
days when my friends, your honored
president, Dow, Ketch, Clark, Geary,
Bell, Mike Page, the McKees, Farms
worth, Tingley, Hey, Watson, Wheat
croft, Emmons, Carson, E. Luther Gay,
and last, but not the least, yourself, and
all your respected families, used to feed
on corn cakes and hope, and drink creek
water and wear clothes that, like those of
the Children of Israel while wandering
in the desert, had the appearance of hay
ing been worn for forty years. 1t was,
indeed, refreshing in those days to see
the number of diferent-colored patches
that could be placed on one garment.
If could be with you / would tell you
of the days when our distinguished guest,
W. S. Tilton, used to publish 10xl2
newspaper in Wa-Keeney and try to sup
port his family on single subscription
for a whole week. Yes, and want to
tell you of the times when our judge used
to live at Ness City and walk from there
to Hays City to try fve-dollar contest
ON time. might also allude to the time
when he used to back off from door
where he had called to get a drink of
water from the hands of lady, or hold
his hat over q portion of his "back" to
hide two large holes in his pants. If it
is true that God loves poor man, He
must have adored Osborn in those days.
wish I could be with you tomorrow
to talk of those old sad times when we
used to be united in poverty, fidelity and
one common interest. May God in His
infinite wisdom especially bless the old
pioneers of this far west, who, by starva-
ton aud suffering made living here pos
sible for the rest of the world; who, by
their suffering, paved the way for school
houses, churches and the great iron
horse. To you, brave souls, who early
settled here and remained in this land,
the world owes debt of gratitude that
can never be paid-a debt that viii be
paid only when God shall say: "You
have paved the way for my people; you
have been faithful over few things and
will now make you ruler over many.
Come up higher"
I am truly sorry that I cannot be with
you, but business prevents. II God is
willing I will be with you next time.
Give my love to the old settlers and re-
serve much for yourself and wife.
Yours, SAM A. SMITH.
Sam worked In the World Office sever
al months in tie summer and fall OF 1879.
His appearance on entering the Office in the